Foot-wiper or boot and shoe cleaner



(No Model.)

No. 350,879. Patented Oct. 12, 1886.

VM Ol! M O @ma El-.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

Nrrnn *rares PATENT tric.

FOOT-VVIPER OR BOOT AND SHOE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,879l dated October12, 1886.

Application filed January 7, lBE. Serial No. 187,832. (No model.)

T aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WiLLiAn O. Flaminio, a citizen of the United States,residingin the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State ofPenn- Sylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boot and Shoe Cleaners,which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a top or plan view,partlyin section, of a cleaner embodying my invention. Fig. 2 representsa longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 represents an end view thereof.

Similar lettersl of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral iigures.

My invention relates to devices for cleaning boots and shoes by means ofbrushes and Scrapers, and it consists of the novel features hereinafterdescribed, whereby I obtain a structure adapted to simultaneously cleanthe top,'bottom, and opposite sides of a boot or shoe, to collect andafford convenient removal of collecting dirt, and to permit effectiveclearance of the cleaning devices.

Referring to the drawings, A designates two side pieces or walls of theframe of the cleaner, between which are located the cleaning devices,consisting of a transverse top brush, B, a series of transverse bottombrushes, C, alternating with Scrapers D, and of longitudinal sidebrushes, E, the several brushes being in proper relation to each otherto act on the top, the sole, and opposite sides of the boot or shoe thatmay be presented thereto. The top brush, B, is arched in longitudinaldirection to correspond with the general contour of the top of a boot orshoe, the bottom land side brushes being substantially flat, and theback of said top brush is fastened to the side pieces, A, so that it isnot only heldin position thereby, but in turn serves to unite the sidepieces. The position of the top brush, B, is at or near one end of theside brushes, E, and of the series of bottom brushes, C, andconsequently the greater portion of the side and bottom brushes is leftexposed,"to be used independently of the top brush, as when the top ofthe boot or shoe does not require cleaning. Spaces are left between thebottom brushes, C, as shown, to receive the Scrapers D, and to permitthe dirt removed from the boot or shoe, cspeciallyby said brushes or theserapers, to escape downward into an accumulating box or drawer, F,which is locatedy beneath the brushes on cleats G of the side pieces,and adapted to slide in and out thereon, and which is provided with arecess, II, for the engagement ol' a spring-catch, J, on the sidepieces, thus holding the drawer in closed position. The area ofthc'drawer F is such that it underlies the entire series of bottombrushes, O, which insures the reception therein of all the dirt fallingthrough the spaces between thc brushes, and it will be seen that bymeans of the drawer the accumulating dirt caribe re` moved with greatfacility. The backs of the bottom brushes, O, together with the scrapersD, are fastened to bars or sills K, which are tted in guidcways on theinner surfaces of the side pieces,A,to slide inward and outward, acatch, L, being connected with the side pieces and engaging with thesills for retaining the same in position; and it will be seen that whenthe sills are slid outward from the side pieces the bott-oni brushes andScrapers may be readily cleaned ot' dirt, while the top and side brushesvare rendered convenient of access for cleaning purposes. The sidebrushes, E, are preferably formed byinserting tufts of proper materialinto the side pieces, A, so that the latter constitute the backs of saidbrushes.

Having thus described my invention, what `1. A boot and shoe cleanercomprising a top brush, side brushes, and a series of bottom brushes,with intermediate Scrapers, having open spaces or passages bet ween saidscrapers and brushes, all substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. A boot and shoe cleaner consisting of an arched top brush, B, securedto the side pieces, A, the side brushes, E, the series of bottonibrushes, O, and Scrapers D, secured at their ends to the sill K, andhaving open spaces between the said brushes and Scrapers, the drawer Fbelow said brushes, Scrapers, and open spaces, all combined and arrangedsubstantially as described.

NV. O. lltllf'flli (l. lVit-nesses:

JOHN A. Wirmnnsu um, A. l?. GRANT.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters IOO

